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Candace Calloway Whiting has studied and trained dolphins, seals, and orca whales. She is currently a volunteer at the Center for Whale Research at Friday Harbor.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..

L Pod Orcas Lost Two Members, End of a Matriline Looms

Yesterday the Center for Whale Research reported that two adult female orcas are now dead. While both were senior members of the Southern Resident orcas and no longer able to bear calves, their roles in the orca culture nonetheless were important. The most disturbing fact about the death of one of the females is that she leaves behind just one son with no other offspring to continue the family line.

Long term research by the Center for Whale research has shown both that post-reproductive females have a significant role in the care of calves – just as human grandparents do – and that the sons often die once their mothers are gone. One of the deceased whales, L2 lost three of her offspring through the years, and only her youngest son, L88 is still alive. In the Southern Resident orca culture, for reasons that are not fully understood, this means that L88 is functionally an orphan even though he is about 20 years old – he is unlikely to survive unless adopted by another female. If he is unable to produce a viable offspring, the family line will peter out. There are now 37 members in L pod, the largest of the three pods. (Originally reported as 38).

This is a unique population of friendly, urban whales. (Center for Whale Research photo).

L2 has been missing since late last year, and L26 was last seen looking emaciated in March by Northwest Fisheries Science Center. L26 was not seen June 5 and 6 when most of L pod, including her matriline, were surveyed by CWR. Both post-reproductrive females, L26 was born approximately 1956, and L2 was born about 1960.

Decades of research on this population by the Center for Whale Research has been fundamental in gaining insight into the orcas’ culture, and this year they have initiated a membership program to help keep their boats on the water and their eyes on the whales.

Some background information on why it is crucial to keep this independent and non-profit organization going:

“In 1976, “Orca Survey” was launched as a census to determine the status of the Southern Resident Killer Whales. Orca Survey is a long-term photo-identification study of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the San Juan Island area of the Pacific Northwest. It was initiated by Principal Investigator Ken Balcomb in 1976 (under contract to the National Marine Fisheries Service) to ascertain the size of the population of Killer whales in the Greater Puget Sound environs of Washington State.

For over three decades, the Center for Whale Research (CWR) has been conducting annual photo-identification studies of the Southern Resident Killer whale (SRKW) population that frequent the inland waters of Washington State and lower British Columbia .

This detailed understanding of population status and trends has supported management decisions in both Canada and the United States. Most recently, data derived from CWR’s long-term studies have been used to support listing decisions in the U.S. under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, and in Canada under the Species At Risk Act, with SRKWs now listed as Endangered in both countries.”

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..

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